Serbia: Serbia’s EPS looks to boost hydroelectric power capacity

Serbian utility Elektroprivreda Srbije has announced a US$656 million investment program aimed at increasing the output capacity of its hydroelectric power and thermal generating fleets.

The state-owned company has already completed an upgrade of the 382-MW Bajina Basta hydropower plant, while overhauls of the 1,050-MW Djerdap 1 and 96-MW Zvornik projects are still ongoing.

HydroWorld.com reported that reconstruction work at Bajina Basta — located on the Drina River – had begun in June 2009, with Andritz Hydro replacing four turbines and modernizing other equipment that had been in operation since 1966.

EPS also signed a supplementary agreement with Russia’s Power Machines in June 2009 to supply one turbine and generator for Djerdap 1, in addition to rehabilitation survices for its original five units.

Last, the company awarded a contract to Voith to perform upgrades at Zvornik in March 2014, which will raise its capacity to 124 MW once completed.

The initiative supports the Serbian government’s European Union accession process efforts by helping the Balkan country meet renewable generation obligations.